POLOKWANE – Tonny Ngwenya, a 42-year-old Zimbabwean national, has been apprehended in connection with several ATM bombings, including recent incidents in Seshego.

Ngwenya, alleged to be the mastermind behind these attacks, was arrested in the Free State following a lengthy pursuit by law enforcement.

Read more: Arrested ATM bombing kingpin appears in Seshego court

The provincial police announced this significant breakthrough last Sunday, revealing that Ngwenya had been evading capture for months until a coordinated operation involving both private and government agencies led to his arrest.

He appeared briefly in the Seshego Magistrate’s Court last Tuesday on charges of armed robbery and malicious damage to property.

He joined 12 of his alleged accomplices for a pre-trial hearing at the regional court on Friday. The other suspects, who were arrested earlier, are facing similar charges in various courts.

Ngwenya is believed to be the key figure in a criminal syndicate responsible for a series of ATM bombings and robberies in Limpopo between January 2022 and May 2023.

The region has witnessed a troubling rise in ATM explosions in recent years.

Recently, 11 suspects aged between 25 and 47 were arrested and are facing charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances, malicious damage to property, and violations of the Explosives and Illegal Immigration acts. These suspects have been positively linked to 10 separate ATM bombing cases.

During the arrests, police confiscated dye-stained banknotes, explosives, three firearms, 18 rounds of live ammunition, and two vehicles. Authorities believe that there may be further links to additional cases.

Provincial police commissioner Lt Gen Thembi Hadebe praised the collaborative efforts of the team involved in the operation. She expressed her admiration for their dedication and effectiveness in bringing Ngwenya and his accomplices to justice.